Terminal block assembly



March 8, 1966 Filed Feb. 27, 1963 fg. ff

E. R. JABLONSKI TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. faz/2mm A?, f/vZons/YL' March 8, 1966 E. R. JABLoNsKx 3,239,797

TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /d/sa/ l Vmll sa@ 3/ 42d 50 3f INVENTOR. ida/fam JE'Z ons/KL' BY M17@ 51M Mtormy United States Patent O 3,239,797 TERMINAL Broers ASSEMBLY Edward R. JabIOnSki, South Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to.

This invention relates to a terminal block assembly and more particularly to a terminal block assembly for use with a light socket in an outdoor lighting lixture.

Prior art outdoor lighting fixtures generally employed light socket assemblies which carried the various electric terminals required to energize and control the lighting unit. As such lighting units become more complex the number of terminal connections increases accordingly. For example, the socket of a metallic vapor lamp requires terminal connections for energization as well as ballasts, photocells and internal interconnections. This array of terminals in ra relatively confined space created a safety hazard during servicing. This hazard was further aggravated by the fact that with the advent of photocontrolled lighting units certain of these terminals would be energized at all times.

lt is an object of the invention `to provide a new and improved terminal block for use with the light socket of .an outdoor lighting fixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light socket terminal block wherein the terminals are shielded from each other and from the metallic portions of the lighting assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a terminal block for a light socket assembly, a wide range of exibility in conductor connection.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an insulating terminal block for use with a lamp socket and comprising a central socket mounting portion and peripherally arranged terminal means extending through said housing with lead connection portions exposed along opposite end faces of said housing wherein certain of the terminal means includes bare wire lead connection portions which are separated from the periphery of the block and adjacent portions by outwardly projecting wall portions integrally formed on the block along one of its end faces and arranged to dene outwardly directed slot-like areas opening outwardly of said block tor bare wire lead insertion and connection.

These and other objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more apparent from the detailed description thereof taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

FlG. l is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a luminaire incorporating the instant invention;

FlG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating how the terminal 4block of FIG. 1 is employed with a light socket and a ballast assembly;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 3-3 of FlG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a terminal block assembly according to the instant invention;

FlG. 5 is -a view taken along lines 5 5 of FIG. 2;

FlG. 6 is a view taken along lines of FlG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a View taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing how the invention may 'be employed in a luminaire energizing Circuit.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. l shows a luminaire 1 having a hood 2 which supports a reflector 3 and a refnactor 4 for controlling the light emanating from a source 5. The reector 3 and refractor 4 are releasably mounted on the hood 2 by a 3,239,797 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 ICC latch assembly 8 which is well known in the art. A photocontrol assembly 6 for controlling the light source 5 is mounted atop the hood 2.

When the source 5 is of the mercury vapor type the luminaire 1 is provided with a ballast 7 which is mounted Within the hood 2 and which, in turn, supports the terminal block 1t) to which the instant invention pertains. A light socket 11 for receiving the light source 5 is suspended from one side of the terminal block 10.

The luminaire l, the photocontrol 6, the ballast 7 Aand the light socket 11 are conventional and well known in the art and will not be discussed in detail for the sake of brevity.

As seen more -specically in FIGS. 2-5, the terminal block 10 consists generally of a rigid body of molded insulating material such as phenolic resin and includes a generally circular central portion which provides means for connection to the light socket 11 and the ballast 7 and a plurality of peripherally arranged terminals. In addition, the terminal block is provided with a central aperture 22 which exposes the rear of the light socket 11 Iso that power supply leads 23 and 24 may be connected to the input -terminals25 of said socket.

A pair of lugs 26 extend inwardly into the aperture 22 and each carries a threaded insert 14 for threadably receiving one of a pair of screws 12 which attach the light socket 11 to terminal block 10. In addition, each of the lugs 26 has lan aperture 20 formed therein for receiving therethrough one of a pair of studs 1S which extend integrally from the ballast assembly 7 and whose threaded lower ends are afxed in said apertures by nuts 21.

The terminal block 10 has an upper, relatively planar, end surface 28 which faces the ballast assembly 7 and a lower recessed end surface 30` which abuts the light socket assembly 11. A plurality of insulation barriers .31 extend from the lower surface 30 for electrically separating the various terminals from each other and from the grounded metallic portions of the luminaire 1.

The terminals are shown to be of two general types. Disposed in the lower end of the block 10, as viewed in FIG. 4, are three pass through terminals 33a, 33h, and 33e provided for connection to the high, medium and low voltage taps, respectively, of the ballast 7. In addition, four barrel type terminals 42a, 42b, 42e and 42d are provided for connecting the luminaires internal circuitry to -a source of energy .and each is mounted in an elongate recess 43 formed in the surface 3b and separated by insulation barriers 31.

The pass through terminals 33a, 33b and 33C are each shown in FIG. 6 to extend through an individual aperture 34 formed in recesses 35 provided in the surface 30 and which form insulation barriers 36 between the pass through terminals.

Each of the pass through Iterminals also includes terminal tabs 38a, 38b, and 38C extending from the opposite surfaces 28 and 30 and central lugs 39 which grip the edge of the openings 34 to secure said terminals in the block 1t).

In order to lminimize the possibility of accidental engagement of the leads connected to the barrel type terminals, the recesses 43 extend tangentially relative to the circular central portion of the block 10. Thus, the barrel terminals and the recesses 43 in which they lare mounted are oriented so that terminal-s 42h and 42e at the upper end of the terminal block 10, as viewed in FIG. 4 extend generally upwardly while terminals 42a and 42d at the other end thereof extend obliquely out- Wardly and away from the pass through terminals.

Each of the barrel connectors 42a, 42]), 42C, and 42d is identical and accordingly only connector 42C will be discussed in detail.

As seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 7, the barrel connector 42C includes a rectangular body portion 44 which is open at both ends for receiving a conductor to be clamped in high pressure electrical engagement therewith by means of a clamp screw 45 which passes through a threaded opening 46 in the outer end of the body portion 44 and which carries a clamp 47 at its inner end. Each of the barrel connectors also include a plurality of terminal tabs 49 which are carried by'and extend outwardly from a plate 52 secured to the surface 28. A screw 48 threadably engages the body portion 44 and the plate 52 to secure these members to the block 10 and to provide an electrical interconnection therebetween.

FIGS. 3, 5 and 8 illustrate an example of how the terminal block may be interconnected with the various circuitry of the luminaire. More specifically, FIGS. 3 and 8 show a conductor 54 connected to the medi-um ballast pass through connector 33b and a pair of conductors 56 and 57 connected to barrel connectors 42C and 42d on the lower surface 30 of block 10. The other end of the conductor 54 is connected to the photocell 6 While the other end of conductors 56 and 57 are connected to a source of energy 64.

FIGS. 5 and 8 show the connections made to the terminal tabs extending from the upper surface 28 on the terminal block 10. These include three conductors 59 yconnected to each of the pass through terminals 33a, 33b and 33C and to the low, medium and high Voltage taps ofthe ballast 7. In addition to the conductors 23 and 24 which connect the lamp socket terminals 25 to the terminal tabs on barrel connectors 42b and 42C, respectively, conductor 60 connects one of the terminal tabs on connector 42d to the photocell 6, conductor 63 connects the photo-control common conductor to the terminal 42e, and conductors 61 and 62 connect the terminal tabs associated with the barrel connector 42C and 42b to the power input terminals of the ballast 7.

The connections to the terminal tabs on the upper surface 28 are all made at the factory. However, the connections to the lower end surface 30 are all made in the ield. This is accomplished by removing the reflector 3 and the refractor 4 of the luminaire to expose the terminal block 10 and then connecting the source conductors 56 and 57. It can be seen that because the recesses 43 extend away from the pass through connectors 33a, 33]? and 33C and further because the connectors 42e and 42d are oriented at an angle to each other the possibility of accidental contact between these conductors is remote. In addition, the insulation barriers 31 also serve to prevent accidental contact between the conductors themselves as Well as between the conductors andthe grounded metallic portions of the luminaire 1.

As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plane containing the edges of the insulation barrier 31 lies below the lower ends of the pass through connectors 33a, 33h and 33C and also the barrel connectors 42a, 42h, 42e1 and 42d. This minimizes the possibility of accidental engagement with these terminals during periodic servicing of the luminaire.

Although only a single embodiment of the terminal block 10 has been shown and described and although it has been illustrated with a particular luminaire and a particular luminaire energizing circuit it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the block may take other forms and may be employed with other types of luminaires and energizing circuits without deviating from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a terminaly block and a lamp socket, said socket having terminal means on one end thereof, said block comprising an insulating member having a pair of end faces and a` generally, centrally located socket mounting portion on one of said faces, means for aftxing the one end Qt said Socket to said socket mounting portion, said socket mounting portion being apertured to expose the terminal means on said socket, a plurality of power supply and distribution terminal means at least partially surrounding said socket mounting portion and each including conductor receiving means disposed on said one end face, each of said terminal means also extending through said terminal block and including conductor receiving means extending outwardly from the opposite end face of said terminal block, said terminal block also including insulating wall portions on said one end face and around each conductor receiving means thereon, said insulating means being arranged to define substantially slot-like areas directed parallel to the orientation of their associated conductor receiving means and opening outwardly of said terminal block.

2. The combination terminal block and lamp socket set forth in claim 1 wherein said socket mounting portion is generally circular and said conductor receiving means are oriented generally tangent to said central socket mounting portion.

3. The combination terminal block and lamp socket set forth in claim 1 wherein the height of said insulating wall portions from said one end face is greater than the height of said conductor receiving means and wherein certain of said wall portions are disposed between each of said conductor receiving means and the peripheral edge of said block.

4. The combination of a terminal block and a lamp socket, said socket having a plurality of terminals on one end thereof, said block comprising an insulating housing having a pair of end faces and a circular central socket mounting portion, means for aflixing the one end of said socket to one end face of said block, said socket mounting portion being apertured to expose said terminals on one of said end faces, a plurality of power supply and distribution terminal means at least partially surrounding said central portion, each of said terminal means including conductor receiving means disposed on the one end face of said housing and around said socket and having an orientation substantially tangent to said socket mounting portion, outwardly projecting wall sections integrally formed on said housing along said one end face and arranged about each conductor receiving means, said wall sections being arranged to dene slot like areas directed parallel to the orientation of their associated conductor receiving means and opening outwardly of said housing and arranged angularly relative to adjacent areas for conductor insertion and connection.

5. The combination lamp socket and terminal block set forth in claim 4 wherein said terminal means extends through said block and has conductor receiving means on the other end face thereof.

6. The combination of a terminal block and a lamp socket, said socket having a plurality of terminals on one end thereof, said block comprising an insulating housing having a pair of end faces and a generally circular central socket mounting portion, means for aixing the one end of said socket to one end face of said block, an aperture formed in said socket mounting portion to expose said terminals, a plurality of power supply and distribution terminal means at least partially surrounding said central portion, some of said terminal means including conductor receiving means disposed on said one end face of said housing and around said socket and being connected to said housing with outwardly projecting tabs exposed along: the opposite end face of said housing, said conductor re ceiving means being oriented generally tangent to said' socket mounting portion, outwardly projecting wall sections integrally formed on said housing along said one end face and arranged about each of said conductor receiving means, certain of said wall portions being disposed between said conductor receiving means and the peripheral edge of said block, said wall sections being arranged to define tangentially directed slot like areas opening outward of said housing for conductor insertion and conf.

uection, other of said terminals being in the form of flat opposite ended tabs extending through said housing and projecting from the end faces thereof for accessory power connection.

7. The combination of a terminal block and a lamp socket for use in a metallic vapor luminaire having internal circuitry including a ballast, said socket having terminal means on one end thereof, said blocl; comprising an insulating member having a pair o end faces and a generally centrally located socket mounting portion on one of said faces, the other of said terminal block faces being disposed toward said ballast, means for fixing the one end of said socket to said socket mounting portion, said socket mounting portion being apertured to expose the terminal means on said socket, a plurality of power supply and distribution terminal means a least partially surrounding said socket mounting portion, each of said terminal means including power supply conductor receiving means disposed on the one end face or" said member and around said socket and having an orientation generally outwardly of said socket mounting portion, Said terminal means also including portions extending through said block and outwardly of the other face thereof and toward said ballast for receiving the conductors composing the internal circuitry of said luminaire, and outwardly projecting wall portions disposed on said member and along one end face thereof and arranged about each conductor receiving means, said wall portions being arranged to deiine generally slot-like areas directed parallel to the orientation of their associated conductor receiving means and opening outwardly of said member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,556,956 6/1951 Benton et al. 339-193 2,715,214 8/1955 Appelton 339-180 3,171,002 2/1965 Kinnear 339-65 X JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

W. DONALD MILLER, Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A TERMINAL BLOCK AND A LAMP SOCKET, SAID SOCKET HAVING TERMINAL MEANS ON ONE END THEREOF, SAID BLOCK COMPRISING AN INSULATING MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF END FACES AND A GENERALLY, CENTRALLY LOCATED SOCKET MOUNTING PORTION ON ONE OF SAID FACES, MEANS FOR AFFIXING THE ONE END OF SAID SOCKET TO SAID SOCKET MOUNTING PORTION, SAID SOCKET MOUNTING PORTION BEING APERTURED TO EXPOSE THE TERMINAL MEANS ON SAID SOCKET, A PLURALITY TO POWER SUPPLY SAID DISTRIBUTION TERMINAL MEANS AT LEAST PARTIALLY SURROUNDING SAID SOCKET MOUNTING PORTION AND EACH INCLUDING CONDUCTOR RECEIVING MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID ONE END FACE, EACH OF SAID TERMINAL MEANS ALSO EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TERMINAL BLOCK AND INCLUDING CONDUCTOR 